Role of measurement of nasal mucociliary clearance by saccharine test as a yard stick of success of functional endoscopic sinus surgery

Abstract

The present study was done to establish normal nasal mucociliary clearance time (NMCT) in people of our region, study variations in NMCT in patients of chronic rhinosinusitis, to see change in NMCT after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and to see whether saccharine test can be used as a yard stick of success of FESS. NMCT of 100 normal individual was measured twice to establish control value. Fourtythree patients of chronic rhinosinusitis were divided into polypoidal and non-polypoidal. Their symptom score, endoscopic appearance score, CT scan score and NMCT was measured preoperatively and postoperatively. NMCT in control group was 6.61 ± 0.84 minutes, in unilateral (u/l) polypoidal sinusitis 13.45 ± 2.07 minutes, in bilateral (b/l) polypoidal sinusitis 21.31 ± 0.76 minutes, u/l non-polypoidal sinusitis 9.54 ± 1.00 minutes and in b/l non-polypoidal sinusitis 11.34 ± 0.93 minutes. Linear relationship was seen between preoperative NMCT and preoperative symptom score, endoscopic appearance score, CT scan score. NMCT improved significantly after FESS. NMCT measurement helps in selection of appropriate patients for surgery. It can be used as preoperative indicator of success of FESS.